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Wednesday, January 26, 2011

DOUBLY BLESSED

Another exciting step in the journey of SHADOWED IN SILK has taken place, and this moment in time takes my breath away. God is so good. He really does deserve our praises for all eternity.

He alone could arrange that the book that I've spent years writing, to be released with a front cover that holds the beautiful image of my birthdaughter, Sarah, who I was reunited with 12 years ago. Only a loving and wildly creative God could put those two elements together to doubly bless this writer.

It all started a few months ago when WhiteFire Publishing sent me the author questionnaire on what images / styles I would like to see on my book’s cover. They would then do a photoshoot with a model dressed in the costumes of my story, and then send those photos to their art designer.

In chatting with them, I suggested that perhaps the model they chose for the photo might like to wear the sari material I had bought in India last year. Roseanna and David White thought that was a great idea.

They then sent me photos of the model they were thinking of using that seemed to fit the physical attributes of my character Abby from the story.

As I looked at the model's face, it struck me that she looked a great deal like my birthdaughter, Sarah, now that Sarah's hair had turned a shade or two darker.

On a whim, I suggested to the White's that perhaps Sarah would make the perfect image for Abby. But WhiteFire Publishing is in Maryland, and Sarah and I live on the west coast.

WhiteFire was undaunted---they asked if I'd like to head-up the photoshoot. Filled with creative juices overflowing, I said yes. In a previous post A Small Miracle you can read about how I 'found' the lost skirt that I thought would be perfect for Abby's western costume.

Then there were the nail-biting moments when I thought the blouse that goes under the sari (the choli) was too small. But at the same time I was relieved that the Indian seamstress could make a ready-made sari out of my material, so that I didn’t have to worry about trying to wrap the sari---a definite art form I do not have the skills for.

For weeks before the shoot I worried that the hairstyle wouldn't turn out to look like that of Abby's in the story. And then I worried about stressing my artistic and professional photography friends who’d offered to help me with the shoot. I began to wonder why I'd ever offered to do this. Had I bitten off far more than I could chew?

And then the day came for the shoot, and our area had a record breaking snowfall, and the whole thing had to be postponed.

But on another day . . . the Lord brought it all together. Because the event had been bathed in prayer, I was amazed more than words can say, how every detail came together perfectly. The hairstyle was perfect. Sarah was luminous with inner and outer beauty. My photographer went beyond all my expectations in his professionalism. And the costumes fit perfectly.

I hope you enjoyed throughout this posting, just a few of my favourites from the more than 200 photos that are currently on their way to WhiteFire Publishing and their designer. The photos here are untouched, raw digitals. I can hardly wait to see what the designer will do with them next.

Again I say, “Thank You, Lord. You are amazing.”

Ephesians 3:20 "Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask for think.

And a special thank you to Sarah for being such a good sport in doing this unusual thing for her birthmom. And thank you to Eric Svendsen for your amazing photography. And a very special thank you to my supportive friends, Jane and Andrea, and to my mum. I love you all so much.